THIS IS THE OFFICIAL NOMINATION AND ENTRY SYSTEM FOR THE 2026 STATE FAIR OF VIRGINIA YOUTH LIVESTOCK SHOWS HELD OCTOBER 1st - 4th, 2026. THIS ENTRY SYSTEM COLLECTS NOMINATIONS AND ENTRIES FOR:
YOUTH BEEF CATTLE
YOUTH MEAT GOATS
YOUTH SHEEP
YOUTH SWINE
The Nomination Process using Animal ID began on May 15th and will end July 1st,
The System is now open for NOMINATIONS (not entries) for those animals that require nomination - ALL Market Beef, Commercial/Crossbred Heifers, Market Lambs, Commercial Ewes, Market Goats, Commercial Does, ALL Market Hogs, and Commercial/Crossbred Breeding Gilts.
NOMINATED ANIMALS MUST ALSO BE ENTERED, ASSESSED ENTRY FEES AND THOSE ENTRY FEE PAID AS DIRECTED when the entry system opens on July 3rd.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. IMPORTANT DETAILS REGARDING THE NOMINATION PROCESS AND INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED IN HAND TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE YOUR NOMINATION ARE OUTLINED BELOW.
YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS NOMINATION PORTAL FOR ANY AND ALL ANIMALS YOU THINK YOU MIGHT SHOW AT THE 2026 SFVA YOUTH LIVESTOCK SHOWS THAT FALL INTO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
MARKET BEEF (STEERS AND HEIFERS, REGISTERED OR CROSSBRED)
COMMERCIAL/CROSSBRED HEIFERS
MARKET LAMBS
COMMERCIAL EWES
MARKET GOATS
COMMERCIAL DOES
MARKET HOGS (REGISTERED OR CROSSBRED)
COMMERCIAL BREEDING GILTS
***Registered Breeding Animals and Prospect Steers/Heifers do NOT require nomination unless you are concerned that there may be an issues with a registration certificate OR the prospect steer/heifer will weigh more than 1000 pounds during weigh-in at the State Fair.
Please make sure you review all the RULES prior to entering the system and completing the nomination requirements. NOT reading the rules is not a valid excuse for NOT complying with the rules or understanding the Nomination Process.
There are no entry fees or payments associated with Animal Nomination. Entry Fees are paid during the entry process which will open on July 3rd.Once you have completed this online Nomination Portal, you must send all DNA Samples AND the completed Nomination Paperwork to:
Katherine Carter
175 W. Campus Drive
380 Litton Reaves
Blacksburg, VA 24061
ALL NOMINATION PAPERWORK AND DNA SAMPLES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JULY 1ST, 2026.
Please make sure that you have the following information on hand prior to beginning this Online Nomination Process:
- Completed Nomination Form for each species you plan to nominate - this form contains all of the information you will be required to enter, except your required nomination pictures.
- Required Photographs of each nominated animal:
- Full Head Shot - clearly showing BOTH ears and ALL TAGS present in each ear.
- Side Profile with the Exhibitor fully present and identifiable in the picture
Questions regarding the Nomination process should be directed to Katherine Carter at 540-231-2257 or carterke@vt.edu.
IMPORTANT LOG-IN INFORMATION: ALL 4-H youth must use the GREEN "Sign-In with 4HOnline" button to access the entry system. Please check with your local 4-H Agent to make sure you/your child are enrolled and approved in the 4HOnline system prior to beginning the entry process. You will need your 4HOnline log-in credentials - if you do not know which email you used or are not familiar with 4HOnline, please contact your local 4-H Agent or Extension Office PRIOR to beginning this process.
All youth entering as an FFA member will use the open Email/Password boxes and BLUE "Sign-In" button to access the entry system. Failure to follow these directions will result in your entries being rejected and the need to resubmit.
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